A video capturing the moment an American man searched for his Vietnamese girlfriend at the airport during their first-ever meeting has attracted nearly 7 million views and almost 400,000 likes on TikTok.

The instant he spotted the woman he had only ever seen on video calls, the American man broke into a joyful smile, left his luggage behind and ran over to embrace her.

It was the first meeting between Ngo Thi Thanh Ngan (born in 2002, from Da Nang) and Luca Danti (born in 2000), an American of Italian and Polish descent.

That reunion, which took place on Lunar New Year's Eve, became a life-changing moment that eventually led the couple to their happy ending.

Ngan said they first got to know each other in 2024 through a family introduction. Her uncle had been close friends with Luca's mother for more than 10 years. When he learned that Luca hoped to meet a Vietnamese woman, he introduced the two.

On August 28, 2024, Luca sent Ngan his very first message. Although they were both a little shy, the conversation flowed naturally.

Luca asked, "What's your dream?" Ngan replied, "I want to earn a lot of money so I can take care of my parents and travel around the world."

The American man expressed a similar sentiment. "I want to do well so my parents can retire early, and I can take my wife and children everywhere."

They felt a deep soul connection from those simple messages. In the days that followed, chatting became a daily routine for both. Luca's maturity gave Ngan a sense of security, gradually erasing the distance between them.

"At the end of 2024, Luca wanted to come to Vietnam to meet me, so he texted and asked, 'When do you have the most free time?' I replied, 'Lunar New Year.' And he flew 20 hours from the US to Vietnam, arriving right on New Year's Eve," Ngan recalled.

That night, instead of celebrating New Year's Eve with her family as usual, Ngan went to Da Nang Airport to wait for Luca. She clearly remembers the moment she saw her boyfriend walking out with a tired face, his eyes searching the crowd, and she could not hold back her emotions. As they wrapped each other in a deeply happy embrace, the festive fireworks began to detonate outside.

"That New Year's Eve, accompanied by the joyful sound of fireworks, is something I will never forget in my life," Ngan said.

A sweet proposal

The moment he stepped into the house, Luca warmly greeted her mother in Vietnamese, "Chuc mung nam moi, me" (Happy New Year, mother). The natural and affectionate greeting instantly won her mother's heart.

During that trip, Luca stayed in Vietnam for half a month. He fully experienced the Vietnamese Tet holiday through various activities, such as gathering early-year luck, visiting relatives to offer New Year greetings, giving lucky money to the elderly and children, and enjoying traditional Tet dishes.

He integrated quickly, never turning down any unfamiliar food, and could sing karaoke all session long with Ngan's relatives and neighbors.

"Also during this visit, he spoke with my parents to ask for my hand in marriage. He said, 'I must ask for your parents' permission before I propose to you.' My parents asked me, 'Do you agree to be with Luca?' I replied, 'I do. I have chosen him as my life partner,'" Ngan recounted.

Before returning to the US, Luca bought Ngan a promise ring, along with a commitment, "I promise I will come back to you. I will do my absolute best."

He returned to Vietnam in April 2025, and this time, he brought his parents along to hold an engagement ceremony with Ngan.

Prior to that, Luca had staged a romantic proposal on the rooftop of a famous hotel in Da Nang. In a space filled with wind and light, Luca asked Ngan, "What kind of man do you wish to marry?" Ngan happily replied, "It's you."

The engagement ring was slid onto Ngan's finger, marking a beautiful milestone for their cross-border romance. When their son proposed, Luca’s mother burst into tears of joy.

"We plan to hold our wedding in the US at the end of 2026 and in Vietnam at the end of 2027," Ngan said.

Thanh Minh